What makes up 75% of black powder?
It consists of potassium nitrate (75% by weight), charcoal (15% by weight), and sulfur (10% by weight). Each of these components plays an important role in the combustion of gunpowder. Potassium nitrate, also known as 'saltpetre', or 'saltpeter', decomposes at high temperature to provide oxygen for the reaction.
The current standard composition for the gunpowder manufactured by pyrotechnicians was adopted as long ago as 1780. Proportions by weight are 75% potassium nitrate (known as saltpeter or saltpetre), 15% softwood charcoal, and 10% sulfur.
Homemade Gunpowder, For Science! How To Make ... - YouTube
Gunpowder, also called black powder, is a simple mixture of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal. The trickiest part of making black powder is sourcing these three supplies. Once you find them, you mix them together and create an explosive black meal.
- Place cow manure into a large pile. ...
- Mix the manure or planting soil with some green plant life, a little bit of ash from burned thistles, worm wood, ash from tree bark or wood ashes.
Also known as saltpeter, potassium nitrate is a white crystallized compound composed of potassium, nitrogen and oxygen. Most commonly used in fireworks, matches and fertilizer, its medical applications include diuretics to reduce high blood pressure.
Originally, it was made by mixing elemental sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter (potassium nitrate). The charcoal traditionally came from the willow tree, but grapevine, hazel, elder, laurel, and pine cones have all been used. Charcoal is not the only fuel that can be used.
Potassium nitrate can be made by combining ammonium nitrate and potassium hydroxide. An alternative way of producing potassium nitrate without a by-product of ammonia is to combine ammonium nitrate, found in instant ice packs, and potassium chloride, easily obtained as a sodium-free salt substitute.
Unlike in ANFO, or even black powder, the water doesn't do any harm to smokeless powder. In powder factories, it is routine to process the powder wet, for safety reasons, and dry it only as one of the last steps before packaging. For several reasons it is infeasible to do this anywhere but in a powder factory.
One of the most common sources of pure potassium nitrate is "stump remover." In the United States, you can find it at Lowes or Home Depot, among other places. Look for the Spectracide brand in those stores near the insecticides.
Where can I get saltpeter?
Saltpeter is typically found in caves across the world of Aeternum, so it's key you're always on the lookout for the resource whenever you go exploring underground.
Pure saltpeter or potassium nitrate is a white crystalline solid, usually encountered as a powder.
Gunpowder is very easy to make. All you need is 1 cloth and 1 acid. You can combine this together using a chemistry station to create gunpowder. Crafting these two components together will produce 15 units of gunpowder.
Gunpowder is a mixture of sulfur (S), charcoal (C), and potassium nitrate (KNO3). Since it is a mixture, it does not have a chemical formula.
Scientists made gunpowder in ancient China by mixing sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter, or potassium nitrate. It probably wasn't hard to think of mixing these three things. All three components of gunpowder were common in ancient China.
